Paper-feeding machine.



No. 645,!62. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

W. BRIDGEWATER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 80, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

nu: Norms vmqas no. woraunwq WASHINGTON n, c.

No. 645,I62. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

W. BBIDGEWATER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. (Applicatiouflled Mar. so, 1s99. (No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N0. 645,!62. Patented Mar. l3, I900. W. BRIDGEWATER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mm. 80, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ms nonms PETERS cu. pnmuma. WASHINEYON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVILLIAM BRIDGEWATER, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,162, dated March 13, 1900.

Application filed March 30, I899. Serial No. 711,124. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRIDGEWA- TER, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented a new and Improved Paper-Feeding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus Whereby the uppermost of a pile of sheets is separated from the pile and advanced to the grippers, tapes, or other device of a printing or other machine dealing with successive sheets for printing, ruling, folding, or other purposes.

The apparatus consists of a suitable frame for carrying rollers and the means for operating them as required. The pile of sheets is placed on a suitable table in a desired position in relation to two parallel rollers which are adj ustably carried in the frame before mentioned. A bar of suitable material is adj ustably carried across the rear end of the pile of sheets parallel to the rollers. The front roller is made to rest with pressure on the pile of sheets and the rear roller is caused to partially revolve, pressing sufiiciently on the pile to move forward the top sheet and form a loop or arch between the two rollers. The rear roller then ceases to revolve, but continues to press upon the pile, thereby preventing the top sheet from sliding back, and at the same time the bar before mentioned is lowered and presses on the rear end of the pile, where the top sheet has been moved away by the action of the rear roller. The front roller may next be raised, allowing the top sheet to straighten out, when its front end will project over the pile, or instead of the front roller rising it may be revolved to straighten out the sheet and carry it forward, and either or both rollers may be caused to carry the sheet forward to the receiving-tapes or other suitable means for carrying the sheet to the printing or other machine. If, however, the action of carrying the sheet out to the receiving-tapes or the like is effected by the front roller, the rear roller is raised after the sheet is straightened out to allow the sheet-to pass, and the front roller still moves it sufficiently to reach the tapes or other device to carry the sheet to its place on the printing-machine, when the front roller is raised to allow the tapes to carry the sheet clear.

. The invention will be understood by referring to the drawings accompanying this specification, the same letters and numerals of reference indicating like parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 4 a cross-section, looking from the rear of the machine. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections, hereinafter referred to, illustrating the operation of separating and carrying forward the top sheet of a pile of sheets. Figs. 7 and 8 are face views of cams hereinafter referred to. Figs. 9 and 10 are views illustrating a modification of part of the apparatus,hereinafter described. Figs. 11 and 12 are face and end views, respec-- tively, of a modification of the gear for revolving the rollers. Fig. 13 is a View hereinafter referred to.

The front and rear rollers (lettered A and B, respectively) are made of rubber or other material having a suitable frictional surface, or the periphery of said rollers may be corrugated or otherwise formed or treated to increase the frictional contact with the sheets. The said rollers A B have spindles A B, respectively, their ends passing through guides A A formed in the frame 0. The levers A B are pivoted at A B to the said frame 0. The said levers A B are hollowed on their upper face (see Fig. 1) and connected to the bottom ends of the spring-controlled rods A B, which pass upward through lugs A B formed with or secured to the frame 0. It will be readily seen, therefore, that by tightening or releasing the thumb-nuts on the spring-controlled rods A B the levers A B may be raised or lowered and the pressure of the rollers A B on the pile of sheets nicely adjusted. Thefree ends of the said levers A B rest upon the horizontal arms a b, respectively, of the bell-crank levers a b, which are pivoted at a b to the said frame 0. The vertical arms a b of the said levers a b are adj ustably connected to the horizontal rods a b the rear ends of the latter being connected to the levers A B fixed on the shafts E and F, respectively.

It will be seen upon referring to Figs. 2 and 4: that similar sets of levers and rods for supporting and raising the rollers A B are provided at each side of the machine.

The spindle A of the rollerA carries on one end a pinion G, which gears with the spurwheel G, loosely mounted on a stud G fixed in the frame 0, and attached to the said spurwheel G is a pinion G gearing with the quadrant H, pivoted at H, the said quadrant being connected by means of a rod 11*, Figs. 1 and 4, to the upper arm of a lever J, pivoted at J. A roller J on the lower arm of said lever rides on the periphery of the cam J The spindle B of the rear roller 13 also carries a pinion G, gearing with a quadrant K, connected by a rod K to the upper arm of a lever L. The lower arm of the latter carries the roller L, which rides on the periphery of the cam N. Thestr'oke of the levers J and L, and consequently the amount of revolution given to the rollers A B, can be regulated by the screws L and J respectively, and they are brought to their normal positions by springs J XX L or equivalent means.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the pile of sheets having been placed in position on the table m and the latter adjusted by means of mechanism hereinafter mentioned to keep the pile in the desired plane for the rollers and in frictional contact therewith, the roller B is partially revolved in the direction of the arrow by the roller L, carried on the arm of the lever L, passing on to the part N of the cam N, fixed on the driving-shaft M. (See Fig. 1.) This movement of the roller 13 will carry forward the top sheet of the pile and form a loop or arch across the sheet between the two rollers A B, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The roller A is stationary While the roller B is being revolved to form such loop or arch. At this time the bar 0 is lowered and bears upon the pile of sheets. The said bar may be of any suitable material and shape and covered with any desired material. The said bar is supported by resting upon sliding blocks, hereinafter mentioned, and descends to press upon the pile of sheets by its own weight. Angle-pieces O are fixed by screws 0 to the said bar 0. The bottom faces of the said angle-pieces O are inclined (see Fig. 3) and bear upon the inclined upper faces of blocks P, adjustably carried upon the horizontal rods P. The latter are movably carried in guides O, fixed on the frame 0. The rear ends of the said rods P are connected by rods P to levers Q, fixed on the shaft R, and one of the said levers Q has a lower arm Q, carrying a roller Q which rides on the periphery of a cam S, fixed on the driving-shaft M. As soon, therefore, as the roller B has formed the loop or arch in the top sheet, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the cam S will immediately pass away clear of the roller Q and the lever Q by the action of the spring Q or. equivalent will be drawn rearward, forcing forward the rods P P carrying the blocks P P, and allowing the bar 0 to descend in the guides O and press upon the pile of sheets. It may be necessary that a pressure greater than the weight of the bar 0 be put upon the pile of sheets, in which case a bell-crank lever W (see Fig. 13) is pivotedto an extension'on the guide 0 the horizontal arm of said lever engaging a pin 0 on an extension 0 on the saidbar O. The block P on the horizontal rod P has a ing P to receive therein a bolt P to adjust the tension on the spring a, one end of which bears against the lower arm of the said bellcrank lever N. The cam T, fixed on the shaft M, will now actuate the lever T, fixed on the shaft E, thereby actuating the lever a rods a, and levers a and raise the roller A to allow the top sheet to straighten itself, as shown in Fig. 6. The roller A then descends and revolves, carrying the partially-removed sheet still fart-her to the tapes, during which operation the roller B has been raised by the lever U, carrying the roller U riding on the cam U, to allow the sheet to pass under. A bar or equivalent may be caused to press on the loop to help it to straighten itself. The cam T continuing to revolve will now by means of its connecting parts raise the roller A free of the top sheet to allow the latter to be drawn clear of the pile by the grippers, tapes, or other means, as before mentioned.

When adapting the apparatus for feeding the top sheet forward by a revolving pressure of the front roller, the partt (see Fig. 8) of the cam T is removed, and in this case the cam U is used, as before stated, to raise the roller B clear of the pile.

It will be clearly seen that the bar 0 and blocks P may be adjusted in relation to the rollers A B according to the size of sheets upon the table m, also that the levers A B may be removed, in which casecollars V, (see Figs. 9 and 10,) having lugs V, will be substituted and mounted on the spindles A B, the said lugs V being pivoted to the arms a or b of the levers a b. The springs and rods A B for regulating the pressure of the rollers A B in this case would be attached to the bell-crank levers a, b or to the said collars V V. The raisingof the rollers A B, with their spindles A B, takes the pinions G G out of engagement with the spur-wheel G and quadrant K, respectively, and the lovers J L are drawn forward and backward, respectively, to their normal positions. When the rollers A and B are lowered, the pinions G G again engage with thespur wheel C and quadrant K, and to insure their gearing the teeth are made sharp or fine at the top.

Instead of making the teeth of the gearing fine, as just mentioned, the respective parts may be formed with normal teeth by using mechanism as follows: The pinion G and spurwheel G gear through an intermediate wheel Y, carried by means of links Y; but instead of the pinion G being fixed on the spindle A it will run loose thereon and revolve the roller A by means of a ratchet-wheel X, fixed on the spindle A, being engaged by a clawker X, pivoted on the side of said pinion G. During the feed movement of the pinion G the clawker X revolves the ratchet-wheel X and roller A; but upon the return movement of said pinion G the clawker will become disengaged and pass freely over the teeth of the said ratchet-wheel, the roller remaining stationary during the return movement of the gearing.

As before mentioned, the table m may be adjusted vertically in relation to the rollers A B and in frictional contact therewith by any suitable means; but one form of such mechanism consists of levers 1, centrally carried by the pillars 2, fixed on the bars 3, the ends of the latter being attached to the framing. The ends of said levers 1 are attached to vertical levers 4 and 5, the former being pivoted to lugs 6 on the under side of the table m and the latter to the lugs 7 on the sleeve 8. The said sleeve 8 is provided with a rack 9, which engages a quadrant 10, which is fixed on the shaft 11, carried in the bosses 12, formed on the bars 3. Fixed on one end of said shaft 11 is a lever 13, upon which may be adjusted the weight 14. Aswill be seen in Figs. 3 and 4:, as the pile of sheets lessens the lever 13 will gradually fall, turning the shaft 11, and with it the quadrant 10, thus lowering the sleeve 8 and levers 5 attached to the lovers 1 1. As the sleeve 8 is lowered, as described, the outer ends of the levers 1 are raised, together with thelevers 4., attached to the lugs 6 on the under side of the table m. It will be readily understood that the table m is steadied, together with the mechanism just described, by the spindle 15, which passes into the tube 16, fixed on the hanger 17. The fork 18 is pivoted at 19 to the frame and engages the sleeve 8, so that by means of the weight 20 the table 'm may be balanced when it is free of the paper.

The mechanism just described for raising the table is based upon the principle of the weight-bridge.

What I claim is 1. The combination in a paper-feeding machine of a revoluble roller A stationary at times upon the front edge of a pile of sheets, a roller B, revoluble by mechanism actuated by a cam, in contact with the top sheet of the pile to form a loop or buckle across the said sheet between the said rollers, mechanism actuated by a cam for operating the roller A and a bar 0 and means actuated by a cam for lowering and raising same, whereby the whole of the top sheet of the pile of sheets rear of the front edge pressed upon by the roller A is moved forward by the roller B revolving in contact therewith, after which the roller B is stationary upon the top sheet and the bar 0 is lowered upon the pile rear of the top-sheet and the roller A is next raised to release the front part of the top sheet to allow the loop or buckle to straighten out, after which the said roller A is again lowered upon and revolved in contact With the top sheet to discharge it clear of the pile, the roller B meanwhile being clear of the pile, substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding machine, in combination the rollers A B gears for revolving the roller B bar 0 and the means for raising and lowering the roller A of gears to revolve the said roller A so as to discharge the top sheet clear of the. pile, operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a paper-feeding machine, the rollers A B gears for revolving the said rollers, means for raising and lowering the roller A and means for raising the roller B so as to discharge the top sheet clear of the pile substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER.

Witnesses:

H. O. BRIDGEWATER, THOMAS SIDNEY SHOULER. 

